Paul Allen & Burt Rutan Space Venture begins with 'Largest Aircraft Ever Constructed'

[cancidas]

now this is cool!!



http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017001880_stratolaunch14.html



from the seattle times:

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen on Tuesday launched a speculative space-travel business that calls for building "the largest aircraft ever constructed."The twin-fuselage, composite-plastic plane, using systems cannibalized from two 747s and powered by six jumbo-jet engines, is intended to fly to an altitude of about 30,000 feet before launching into orbit a rocket slung underneath its wing.
At a time when the federal government has drastically curtailed its space ambitions and cut funding for exploration, Allen offered a grandiose vision of private industry stepping in to take over.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2011/12/13/2017005261.jpg

[gonzalu]

I'd love to see someone land that behemoth ... and is there any hint at the wheelbase width? If the wingspan is greater than a football field, the distance between the carriages looks to be greater than the typical 200 feet most large runways are these days.

I love it! Bring it... if anyone has the money to do it and spend it it's Allen. And if anyone has the b***s to do it is Burt and Scaled Composites!

[Speedbagel_001]

I love it! Bring it... if anyone has the money to do it and spend it it's Allen. And if anyone has the b***s to do it is Burt and Scaled Composites!

Technically speaking, Rutan retired from Scaled Composites back in April.